Clarity. Advocacy. Simplicity. Creativity. I like making connections. Not to confuse but to understand. From inspiring to amusing to unexpected ... to politically progressive. Between people, places, things. Ideas, beliefs, words. Events, issues, solutions. To explain. To enjoy. To grow. To advise. For fun, call me Garbl. I'm an acronym!

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Monday, April 23, 2012

Back in the days when I studied journalism and worked as a newspaper editor and reporter, I learned, experienced and used the word Afghanistanism:

the practice (as by a journalist) of concentrating on problems in distant parts of the world while ignoring controversial local issues.

Of course, that was multiple decades ago, before the United States launched its endless war in Afghanistan. Initially, after 9/11, I supported its purpose. But that purpose has been accomplished as much as realistically possible.

Unfortunately, the news media aren't the only institutions that continue to practice Afghanistanism. I support the United States in its limited efforts (as reflected in the U.S. budget) to help improve living conditions and enhance freedoms of people in foreign countries. But I believe some U.S. efforts at nation-building accomplish little (at least for the people of countries we're supporting) at the expense of accomplishing nation-building at home.